News

The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to publish preliminary results of a study on chlopyrif, a widely used fruit and vegetable preservative in Southern Europe. This is probably the first case of an interim report request in EFSA's history. It is requested by the Commission because of the approaching expiry date of the license (end of January 2020) for the use of this substance. Environmental NGOs are fighting against the extension of the license, arguing that the substance causes brain damage in children. If EFSA confirms the suspicion, there will be a non-renewal of the license for the next period. EFSA is due to report by the end of July 2019.

Germany has objected to a possible extension of the license for thiacloprid, an insecticide produced by Bayer Company. Member States' representatives met last week at the European Commission's Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed to discuss a possible extension of the license for the use of this plant protection substance. The Commission presented a document not recommending renewal of the license (document is available here). Thiacloprid would thus become another of the forbidden neonicotinoids. Germany stated that it would vote in favour of not renewing the license in the Commission´s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

French Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume announced last week the decision to ban the transport of live animals in regions affected by high temperatures. Animals will not be transported on the hottest parts of the day, i.e. between one and six in the afternoon. The ban will apply until further notice.
More information is available here.

The European Commission has published an overview of agri-food trade. According to the survey, agri-food exports grew by 13% (EUR 12.8 billion) in May 2019 compared to May 2018. Exports of pork, baby food, spirits, liqueurs and wine strengthened in particular. On the other hand, exports of sugar beet and cane, vegetable oils and live animals decreased. Exports to China, the USA, Japan and Canada strengthened the most. Imports to the EU also increased by a total of 6% over the same reporting period (EUR 10.7 billion). Imports of palm oil, unroasted coffee and tropical fruit decreased the most.
More information is available here.

EU Ministers of Agriculture met on 15/07/2019 at the Council of Ministers, the first one under the Finnish Presidency. Ministers were informed about the priorities of the Finnish Presidency, focusing in particular on climate, sustainability, greening policy and setting transition rules. Furthermore, ministers discussed the rules of the new green architecture under the CAP, the situation on the EU sugar market (here), African swine fever, and animal welfare during transport (separate reports on African swine fever and live animal transport see below). The Finnish climate and sustainability focus can turn the discussions in the Council in a different direction than they have been so far, which could also delay the planned agreement on the Council's position on the CAP. The ministers were inconsistent in the debate on the new green architecture - FR, DK, NL and DE supported the Commission's proposals, while IT, ES, PL, LV and MT rejected the Commission's proposals with the argument that they were too stringent or demanding. According to IT, climate and environmental regimes (so-called eco-schemes) should not be compulsory for Member States, IT has proposed the introduction of eco-schemes for the territories, which would allow subsidies to farmers on the basis of their unique location conditions. Small farmers, according to IT, should be exempted from eco-scheme rules. According to the ES Minister of Agriculture, the rules of crop rotation or nutrient management scheme should be introduced gradually in order to give farmers time to adapt to the new rules and changes.

The Ministerial debate also showed:

Support for an adequate CAP budget – IE, SK, ES, IT, SI, LT, CY, LV, FR, HR, SE;
Support for setting CAP rules so that new requirements do not compromise competitiveness – CZ, FR;
The rules of eco-schemes should be more flexible than they have been proposed so far – IE, PT, SI;
Eco-schemes should be mandatory – IE, DE, FR;
Total of 30% from the second pillar and 40% of the total CAP budget should be earmarked for AEKO – ES;
Total of 40% instead of 30% of the second pillar’s budget should be earmarked for AEKO– FR;
Support for maintaining 30% of the second pillar’s budget for AEKO measures – LU, PT, LT, IE, EE, RO, HU, BE, SI, SK, PL, IT, CZ, CY;
Support for the exclusion of eco-schemes from capping of direct payments – DE, SI, RO, CZ, SK, CY;
Cross compliance rules should apply to everyone regardless of size – DE, BE, SK, NL, CZ, DK;
Cross-compliance rules should be simplified for small farmers – LT, EE;
Cross-compliance rules should not apply to small farmers – IT, LV, PL, MT, BG, HU, GR, EE, CY, LT, HR;
Support for achieving external convergence – EE, LV;
Support for setting a clear definition of real farmers, promoting the principle of voluntariness – CZ;

Finland will try to reach a general agreement on CAP reform by the end of 2019. However, according to Finnish Minister of Agriculture Jari Leppä, this will only be possible if the Member States agree on the Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU budget for 2021-2027, in the coming months.
More information is available here.